Eighty Four, PA – The Washington County Community Foundation recently awarded $5,000 in grants to local charities from two internship funds: The Three Oaks Internship Fund and the Betty Drach Internship Fund.
These grants will be used by the grantees to provide a monetary stipend to student interns who: are performing services for the non-profit; are currently enrolled in an accredited course of post‐secondary educational study; and who qualify as an intern under the applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
The Marianna Public Library will use the top internship grant of $2,000 to engage younger teens, teaching them the significance and techniques of preserving history, specifically, coal mining history. Pamela Clutter, Library Director, said, “This will help us get our collections of newspapers, pictures, and coal mining history digitized and preserved.”
Three additional nonprofits received grants of $1,000 each.
Mindi Buxton, Training and Talent Specialist, Southwestern PA Human Services, underscores the pivotal role of internships, “An internship brings fresh perspectives, increases productivity, fosters skill development, enhances community outreach, and builds a talent pipeline, all crucial for advancing the organization's mission.”
Tanya Vokes, CEO, Dress for Success, added, “Interns become an essential part of our team almost immediately, providing direct services to women in need of clothing and employment readiness support.”
Justin Thiry, Program Director, Greenbriar Treatment Center, commented, “We will utilize our internship position to both educate and provide valuable experience to future social workers and therapists. In addition, the program will help to provide a fresh prospective on services with the latest evidence-based research.”
“We have been pleased with the results of our internship grant program, which has been beneficial to both the intern and to the nonprofit,” remarked Betsie Trew, WCCF President & CEO. “Unfortunately, every year we receive significantly more requests for internship grants than we can support. In the coming year, we hope to secure additional funding to increase the internship program in 2025.”
Those interested in supporting the Foundation’s internship program are encouraged to contact the Foundation at development@wccf.net or 724-222-6330.